Catholicism Question?

Question

I've been getting more and more interested in Catholicism these past few years. I understand a lot of things about it, but I still have a question.

Would someone please explain to me why Catholics pray to Mary? I don't get it. I'm curious.

Thanks for answering!

Answer 1

The issue of Catholics praying to saints is one that is full of confusion. It is the official position of the Roman Catholic Church that Catholics do not pray TO saints or Mary, but rather that Catholics can ask saints or Mary to pray FOR them. The official position of the Roman Catholic Church is that asking saints for their prayers is no different than asking someone here on earth to pray for you. However, the practice of many Catholics diverges from official Roman Catholic teaching. Many Catholics do in fact pray directly to saints and/or Mary, asking them for help – instead of asking the saints and/or Mary to intercede with God for help. Whatever the case, whether a saint or Mary is being prayed to, or asked to pray, neither practice has any Biblical basis.



The Bible nowhere instructs believers in Christ to pray to anyone other than God. The Bible nowhere encourages, or even mentions, believers asking individuals in Heaven for their prayers. Why, then, do many Catholic pray to Mary and/or the saints, or request their prayers? Catholics view Mary and saints as "intercessors" before God. They believe that a saint, who is glorified in Heaven, has more "direct access" to God than we do. Therefore, if a saint delivers a prayer to God, it is more effective than us praying to God directly. This concept is blatantly unbiblical. Hebrews 4:16 tells us that we, believers here on earth, can "...approach the throne of grace with confidence..."



1 Timothy 2:5 declares, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." There is no one else that can mediate with God for us. If Jesus is the ONLY mediator, that indicates Mary and saints cannot be mediators. They cannot mediate our prayer requests to God. Further, the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ Himself is interceding for us before the Father, "Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them" (Hebrews 7:25). With Jesus Himself interceding for us, why would we need Mary or the saints to intercede for us? Who would God listen to more closely than His Son? Romans 8:26-27 describes the Holy Spirit interceding for us. With the 2nd and 3rd members of the Trinity already interceding for us before the Father in Heaven, what possible need could there be to have Mary or the saints interceding for us?



Catholics argue that praying to Mary and the saints is no different than asking someone here on earth to pray for you. Let us examine that claim. (1) The Apostle Paul asks other Christians to pray for him in Ephesians 6:19. Many Scriptures describe believers praying for one another (2 Corinthians 1:11; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:19; 2 Timothy 1:3). The Bible nowhere mentions anyone asking for someone in Heaven to pray for them. The Bible nowhere describes anyone in Heaven praying for anyone on earth. (2) The Bible gives absolutely no indication that Mary or the saints can hear our prayers. Mary and the saints are not omniscient. Even glorified in Heaven, they are still finite beings with limitations. How could they possibly hear the prayers of millions of people? Whenever the Bible mentions praying to or speaking with the dead, it is in the context of sorcery, witchcraft, necromancy, and divination - activities the Bible strongly condemns (Leviticus 20:27; Deuteronomy 18:10-13). The one instance when a "saint" is spoken to, Samuel in 1 Samuel 28:7-19, Samuel was not exactly happy to be disturbed. It is plainly clear that praying to Mary or the saints is completely different from asking someone here on earth to pray for you. One has a strong Biblical basis, the other has no Biblical basis whatsoever.


God does not answer prayers based on who is praying. God answers prayers based on whether they are asked according to His will (1 John 5:14-15). There is absolutely no basis or need to pray to anyone other than God alone. There is no basis for asking those who are in Heaven to pray for us. Only God can hear our prayers. Only God can answer our prayers. No one in Heaven has any greater access to God's throne that we do through prayer (Hebrews 4:16).

Answer 2

Catholics revere Mary for if there was no Mary there would be no Jesus and no Catholic Church. Catholics also believe that the saints can hear prayers and intercede on the petitioner's behalf. It takes some of the pressure off of God to let others handle some of the prayers.

Answer 3

Mary is the mother of God, and pure as a result of having been born without original sin. She lived on the earth in human form, but because of who she was, ascended into heaven. She isn't a Goddess, but not quite human either, somewhat like the Christ in that respect. Catholics pray to Her as an intermediary, as they pray to the Christ as an intermediary. Having lived on the earth, yet so close to God...

Answer 4

As a Roman Catholic of almost 60 years now, i'm able to permit you recognize that there have been some years i strengthen into tempted to stay with a protestant line of thought (baptist, methodist, episcopalian, presbyterian), and that i studied the some distance jap faiths as properly. a brilliant style of persons say I stayed with Roman Catholicism for the reason it is the religion i strengthen into born into. those have been protestants who stated that. Roman Catholics recognize the capability of love and faith in Christ it is felt in common terms in the Roman Catholic Church. possibly the protestants have been truly top. I stayed with Roman Catholicism because of the fact i strengthen into born into it, and went to their colleges in the process the 9th grade, however the protestants do not understand WHY a actual Catholic constantly remains with their Church. they think of it truly is a few developmental or sentimental or psychological reason. Boy have they ignored-the-mark of their information. We stay with the Church because of the fact Christ Jesus truly DID set up His Church with Peter because of the fact the 1st Pope, and no the place else in the international will one discover Jesus' love and capability so solid as you will in the Roman Catholic Church. I do seem forward on your being in the RCIA classes. God Bless you, and your fiance, or female pal you have yet to "spring-the-question-to". :-) do not forget the hoop! that's often a solid "merchandising factor" as you run wanting words on your suggestion. :-)) i recognize. i've got been there. God Bless you and your toddlers as properly.

Answer 5

We ask her to pray for us and intercede for us as she interceded at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-5). We do not offer her worship that is due only to God.

Answer 6

Mary is the mother of Jesus, she gave birth to him, she raised him and loved him, she was his first disciple.

When Catholics "pray" to Mary, they aren't really praying to her but honoring her.

Ask yourself: "Have I ever asked a friend to pray for me? Have I ever prayed for a friend?" That's what it's like with Mary, we don't pray to her- seeking results, we simply ask her to pray for us.

Answer 7

Please do not become interested in Catholicism. It is a lie, it is a religion that is man made (founded by COnstantine around 300 A.D.) I do not know why they pray to Mary when there is no where in the Bible to say that you can pray to Mary. THey use the verse in the Bible that says Jesus told SImon that Mary is your mother and Simon is Mary's son. They assume that because of this verse, you need pray to Mary(don't ask me where they got that from). Mary needed a son, because Jesus was dying at a young age and Mary was a widow, she would be alone with no husband.

Answer 8

i think for so long Catholics have venerate almost everything in life that their just use to it, and validation throughout history of miracle's apparitions and so forth have just fueled venerating mary.

Answer 9

becouse thy call her the mother of god.